“As a matter of fact, yes,” Flo began.
Jim shot her a look and she pressed her lips tightly together.
Heather unbuckled Diane and lifted her out of her carrier, then held her in her arms. “Wow, tough crowd,” she teased as she smiled at him. “I didn’t realize I was risking my reputation by coming here with you.”
“I think you’re safe.”
She winked. “Maybe not. Maybe someone will lock us in a closet together to see what happens.”
“Not unless they lock Diane in with us. Your daughter’s on a pretty regular feeding schedule.”
“I suppose you’re right. Saved by the baby.”
Then Flo said something and Heather was distracted. Jim listened to the conversation around him but didn’t join in. He had too much on his mind.
While he wasn’t angry about Flo’s well-meant comments, he could have done without them. He didn’t want his employees matchmaking. For one thing, he and Heather had come to terms with their relationship and neither of them wanted to change things. For another, he was having enough trouble forgetting their passionate kiss the previous weekend without being reminded of it at every turn. Not that anyone knew about the kiss, but talk of men and women and the things they could do in private together brought the kiss to mind and left him in a very uncomfortable physical state.
He glanced around the large hall Rick’s family had rented for the wedding. Streamers, balloons and big white paper bells hung from the ceiling. Round tables had been covered with white tablecloths and decorated with floral centerpieces set on small mirrors. The fine crystal reflected the overhead lights. To the far right was a dance floor, to the left, the low platform where the wedding party would sit and dine.
Heather laughed, drawing his attention back to her. She was wearing a pretty pink dress that shimmered and swayed with her every movement. She’d pulled the sides of her hair up and held it in place with fancy combs. Pearl earrings and a matching necklace hung around her neck. She looked fresh and lovely. To his mind, she was the most beautiful woman in the room.
Flo turned her attention back to Arnie, her longtime boyfriend, and Heather looked at Jim. She smiled. “What do you think?”
“They’ve done a great job with everything. I’m sure it took a lot of work.”
She looked at all the people still milling around. “This represents my childhood fantasy.”
“A big wedding?”
“No. A big family. I always wanted lots of brothers and sisters.” She smiled ruefully. “I think I missed them as much or more than I missed having a father. Not that I told my mother that. She would have been heartbroken.”
“I didn’t have a big family, either,” he said, but wasn’t sure he’d missed it. At times, he’d wished there was someone else to help out with his mother, but mostly he’d prayed that she would be healed.
“I wonder if Diane will feel the same disappointment,” Heather said, staring down at her baby daughter. “Sorry, little one, but a big family isn’t in the cards for you, either.”
“You shouldn’t say that,” Jim told her. “You don’t know what’s going to happen. You could still meet someone and want to have a family with him.” He made the statement sincerely, ignoring the stab of pain at the thought of her with another man. Living with him, making love with him, marrying him.
“I’m reasonably confident that I—”
The sound of fanfare cut her off. Everyone turned and looked toward the large double doors at the front of the hall. They opened and Rick and Lupe swept inside.
“She’s so beautiful,” Heather breathed. “And he’s so handsome. This is great.”
Jim nodded in agreement. Lupe wore a traditional white gown covered in lace and tiny beads. A train trailed after her while a frothy veil tumbled down her back. Rick looked tall and sure in a gray tuxedo. The young couple walked toward the platform. As they reached their chairs, Rick leaned over and kissed his bride. Lupe blushed and the crowd cheered.
“Did you have a big wedding?” Jim asked over the calls of the crowd for another kiss.
Heather shook her head. “We eloped, mostly because there wasn’t any money for a wedding.” A wistful look crept into her green eyes. “Something like this would have been nice.”
“Mr. Dyer, I want to thank you.” Jim looked up and saw a plump middle-aged woman sniffing into a tissue. “I’m Rick’s mother, Sonia, and I’ve wanted to speak to you for a long time.” More tears flowed. She waved her hand. “Oh, this wedding. I knew I was going to cry.”
He rose to his feet and awkwardly patted her shoulder. Dark eyes continued to fill.
“Thank you for sharing this day with us, with Rick and Lupe. But more than that, thank you for all that you did for my son. For so long I was afraid of the path he’d chosen. We all tried to get through to him, but he was a boy who thought he was a man. He didn’t want to listen. But you…” She waved her arms in the air, then pulled Jim into a bear hug. “There are no words. So I thank you from the bottom of my mother’s heart.”
She kissed him firmly on the mouth, a fairly surprising thing considering she was all of five feet and he didn’t remember bending down to help, and then she was gone.
Jim swallowed uncomfortably, then dropped back into his seat. Fearing the worst, he glanced around the table and saw that every one of his employees had witnessed the emotional scene. Flo was wiping away a few tears of her own and Brian’s redheaded girlfriend looked awestruck.
“Great,” he muttered under his breath.
“Maybe you’d better wear those red plastic boots after all,” Heather said in a low voice.
“They’ll look a little funny with the suit.”
She grinned and put her hand on his forearm. “It could be worse,” she told him. “His whole family could be lining up to thank you.”
Apparently, Heather was also a prophet, he thought thirty minutes later as the line in front of him dwindled to a few cousins and an older woman who had no clue who he was but had thought this was the line for the buffet. Practically every relative Rick had ever known was familiar with the story of how Jim had helped one of their own, and each person wanted to thank him individually.
The band started a new song, something slow and romantic. “Enough of this foolishness,” Flo said as she rose to her feet and came around the table. “Give me that darling baby of yours and go dance with our boss.”
Jim glanced over at Heather, who shrugged. “I have my orders,” she said, getting up and holding out her hand. “Want to dance?”
“Absolutely.”
They walked out to the dance floor and joined the other couples already there. Rick had Lupe in his arms. When he saw Jim, he gave him a thumbs-up gesture of approval.
“When all this is over,” Jim growled, “I’m having a talk with that young man and explaining that there are some things he needs to keep to himself.”
“Afraid everyone will figure out the truth?” She slipped into his arms. “You are an amazing guy. You can run, but you can’t hide.”
“I don’t feel very amazing,” he said, although she did. Heather fitted perfectly in his arms. Knowing the crowd around them would help keep his desire under check, he pulled her close until they were touching from shoulder to thigh. He inhaled the scent of her perfume. “You smell good.”
“Thanks. So do you.”
He tucked their linked hands close to his shoulder and wrapped his free arm more firmly around her waist. “Did I tell you how beautiful you are today?” he asked.
“About five times, and I appreciate every compliment more than you can imagine.”
“Why? Don’t you know you’re an incredibly beautiful woman?”
She looked up at him. Her eyes were wide and color stained her cheeks. “Wow. No one has ever said that to me before. Thank you. I feel very special.”
She was special. So special that the thought of always being like this wasn’t the least bit scary. Unrealistic, but not scary. If he were willing
to give a relationship and love a try, Heather might be the one woman he would want to be with. Of course, because of how much he admired and respected her, he would never inflict himself upon her. Talk about a no-win situation.
They danced twice more. As they returned to their table at last, a gray-haired older woman stopped them. A boy of nine or ten was at her side. The woman spoke in rapid Spanish.
“She says to tell you that she is Lupe’s grandmother,” the boy said, then paused to listen. “She says that you were very kind to Rick and that she’s glad God has blessed you with a wife and family of your own. Your daughter is beautiful.”
Jim shifted uncomfortably, not knowing what to say. “Tell her…” He paused.
Heather smiled at the grandmother and touched her arm. “Tell her that we appreciate her kind words and that we wish Lupe and Rick all the happiness in the world.”
The older woman beamed in response, then moved off. Jim tugged at his collar. “Sorry about that. I didn’t know what to say.”
“I know.” She looked at him with wide-eyed innocence. “Gee, have you noticed we’ve been getting some not-so-subtle messages from the world at large? An awful lot of people assume we’re married. I wonder what that means?”
He closed his hand over the back of her neck. “Yeah, like you want to get married any more than I do.”
“Less,” she said firmly as she led the way back to their table. “I want to get married even less than you do.”
Fifteen minutes later, she was dancing with one of Rick’s uncles. Jim watched, trying not to feel annoyed at the way the other man was holding her close. He felt someone move next to him, glanced over and saw Flo.
“Don’t you want this for yourself?” she asked.
“Are you referring to the cake on my plate? Help yourself.”
She swatted his arm, then motioned to the bride and groom sitting alone at the head table. They stared into each other’s eyes and spoke as if the rest of the world didn’t exist.
“Marriage,” she said. “A family. Heather.”
He didn’t answer; he didn’t have to. Flo knew his thoughts on the subject.
She glared at him. “Women like her don’t come along every day.”
“You’ve told me this before. I know you’re right.”
“How long do you intend to be stubborn and stupid? When are you going to take a chance on love?”
He stared at her earnest expression and the concern darkening her brown eyes. “Thanks, Flo.”
“What you really mean is never, right?”
He didn’t even have to think before nodding.
*
“I can’t do this,” Jim said frantically as he paced from one end of the waiting room to the other.
Heather rolled her eyes. “I knew it was a mistake to bring you. Calm down. This is a well-baby visit. Diane’s going to get weighed and measured and the pediatrician will make sure everything is okay with her. Nothing else.”
“But he’s giving her a shot,” he said in the same tone of voice reserved for discussing serial murderers. “She’ll cry. It will be horrible.”
“She probably will cry,” Heather agreed. “And guess what? We’ll all survive it. Well, except possibly you.”
Heather glanced down at her daughter who was perfectly content to play with her bright plastic set of baby keys, then at the other woman sitting in the waiting room. She had a one-month-old in a carrier.
The woman met her gaze and smiled. “It’s nice that your husband was able to take time off work to come with you and your daughter.”
Heather had given up ever trying to explain her relationship with Jim. “I agree. Although if I’d known what he was going to be like, I would’ve left him behind.”
He glared at her, then slumped into the seat next to her. “Fine. Kick me when I’m down. Can I help the fact that I’m worried about Diane? Is that so horrible?” He leaned his head against the wall and closed his eyes. “I’m going to be sick,” he announced.
The other women giggled softly and Heather had to bite back a smile. The real humor of the situation was that Jim wasn’t kidding. While he’d been perfectly calm and capable during her emergency delivery in the elevator, when faced with a well-baby visit that involved getting Diane vaccinated, he fell apart.
Still, she had to admit she was happy to have him along. Even with his melodrama, he was company and another pair of ears to listen to the doctor’s instructions. Sometimes she got so caught up in remembering all her questions that she had trouble remembering the answers.
They were a good team. Everyone around them assumed they were married—from Rick’s grandmother at the wedding the previous month to the young mother in the waiting room here in the pediatrician’s office. She’d teased Jim that it was a sign from God, but now she wasn’t so sure it was a joke.
She drew in a deep breath and reminded herself that she’d tried the relationship thing three times in the past ten years and ended up hurt in a big way every time. Jim was a wonderful man even though he had a few issues from his past. She liked him and got along with him and they had a chemistry that she’d never experienced before, but they weren’t going to have a romantic relationship together. They couldn’t.
At first she’d resisted because of her three-strikes rule. But now she wasn’t willing to take the chance and risk losing the friendship she’d come to count on. Jim had become a part of her life and she didn’t want him to leave. As long as they were friends, she was reasonably confident that he would be there for her. But if they stirred sex and love into the mix, there was no telling what might happen. Better for both of them to keep the status quo.
*
“Feeling better?” Heather asked later that evening as Jim drank a beer.
“I told you, I’m fine.”
“No way. I thought you were about to pass out when you saw the needle. You screamed louder than Diane.”
Jim looked insulted. “I did not scream. I exhaled loudly.”
Heather laughed. “You made a shrieky noise that could wake the dead. Poor Dr. Miller nearly jumped out of his skin.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he grumbled, but she could see the faint red tingeing his cheeks.
Heather couldn’t resist leaning over and patting his arm. “It’s okay. Your secret is safe with me. I’ll never let on that you can’t handle watching Diane get vaccinated.”
“It wasn’t that,” he said. “It was…” He paused.
“Yes?”
“Something else. I don’t remember.”
“Oh. Of course. Something else made you cry out like a woman.”
Blue eyes turned icy and she half expected to see frost forming in the corners of her living room. “What was that?” he asked.
Heather knew she’d crossed the line. Jim might be a great guy, but he wasn’t above a tickling attack that would leave her gasping and crying uncle. She cleared her throat. “I didn’t say anything. Really.” She batted her eyes for effect.
“I thought so.”
He shifted so that he was facing her. They sat on the sofa in her living room. Dinner was long over and the dishwasher had nearly completed its cycle.
“Thanks for letting me stay,” he said. “I enjoyed watching Diane taste her first solid food.”
Heather thought about the mess and the tiny amount her daughter had actually swallowed. “I don’t think it was a complete failure, but I don’t know that we can call it a roaring success, either. I’ll do what the doctor suggested and try it every couple of days until she gets the idea. I guess I should go look at high chairs this weekend.”
For her first sampling of baby cereal, Diane had been propped up in Heather’s lap. But that wouldn’t work for very long.
“You want company?” he asked. “My car has a bigger trunk.”
“We’d both like that.” She looked at his familiar, handsome face. “You’re very good to us.”
“Yeah, well.” Jim cleared his throat.
“Actually, I want to talk to you about that.”
“The high chair?”
“No. That you don’t seem to mind me hanging around with you and Diane.”
“I don’t. We have fun.” She paused. What was he trying to tell her?
He set the bottle of beer on the coffee table. “I want you to know that I really appreciate the way you let me be a part of your life. I enjoy visiting and spending time with both of you.”
Soft warm fuzzies fluttered inside Heather’s stomach. She wasn’t sure what Jim was trying to say, but she liked it. Was he going to admit to having feelings for her? Feelings that went beyond friendship? She clenched her hands together in anticipation. Did he want to kiss her again, or maybe do something more intimate? Oddly enough, the thought didn’t terrify her, which made the whole thing incredibly confusing. Just this morning at the doctor’s office, she’d lectured herself on the importance of maintaining their friendship. Was she willing to risk that if he wanted to?
“But I’m a little concerned about taking up too much of your time,” he continued.
“Huh?” Wait a minute. That line of dialogue was not part of her fantasy.
“I don’t want to get in the way of your having a life. I’m here several times a week. That doesn’t leave you much opportunity for socializing.”
Heather sighed once and released the very short-lived dream that he was changing the terms of their relationship. She was surprised to find herself battling disappointment. How strange.
“Jim, you are my social life.”
“I know, and I think you should change that. You need to be dating.”
My oh my, the man was obviously incredibly hot for her body. He couldn’t wait to see her going out with other men. Damn. Heather leaned back against the sofa and told herself this was all for the best. She could get by without a lover, but friends were essential. Even as she told herself to be sensible, she couldn’t help feeling sad that they weren’t going to kiss again.
“What about you?” she said. “At least I’ve tried to make a relationship work in the past. You’ve never been married.” She turned to look at him. “Why is that? You’re perfect husband and father material.”
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